Today, as you all know, is the last game before the All-Star break. The Yankees have a chance to go into the break with some real momentum. They've already picked up three games on the first-place Rays in the past week. They're now 5 1/2 behind the Rays and five behind the Red Sox. That's a manageable gap, one you can realistically feel is within striking distance.
The Yankees will be wearing black armbands in memory of Bobby Murcer. There will be a moment of silence before today's game, and I'm sure many things that honor him once the Yankees reutrn to Yankee Stadium.
Here are a few details on Alex Rodriguez and his home-run hitting. Nobody has hit more major league home runs that Rodriguez's 532 since his first full season in 1996. His homer yesterday was his first on the road (the Yankees have played a lot of home games lately) since June 15th at Minute Maid Park.
Yesterday, both Rodriguez and Derek Jeter homered in the same game. Based on this strange stat, the Yankees would be unstoppable if they could do that a lot more often. Since A-Rod joined the Yankees in 2004, the team is 17-1 when both he and Jeter homer in a game.
Lineup
Yankees
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Betemit 1B
Gardner LF
Pettitte LHP
Blue Jays
Inglett CF
Eckstein DH
Overbay 1B
Barajas C
Mench RF
Rolen 3B
Lind LF
Scutaro 2B
McDonald SS
Burnett RHP
Comments (6)
Could be one of the last times we see Wilson Betemit in the lineup for a while. The Yankees could very easily have Richie Sexson in the fold coming back from the break
Salary Cap in Baseball, you mean Far Play,, and Not buying pennants, well, alright, my daddy died in WW11, so as a good American honoring him, lets write to MLBPA.com and say, 'We Want a Salary Cap in Americas Sport, Baseball". and limited free agent signings too per year. Yankees fans , lets do it the Fair Way, and prove we dont have to cheat to win. My site Vipersdiapers@aol.com and Islander1955@aol.com Agree.
I know the Murcer stuff was on another thread, but I just wanted to add one note beyond my condolensces.
I'd forgotten that Murcer drove in all 5 runs in the win after Thurman died. I remember the game-winner like it was yesterday. I was only 11 and Munson was my favorite player. I couldn't believe the whole world didn't stop and mourn. Couldn't even believe they were playing the game. But when they did, it seemed that they absolutely had to win it if anything was going to be right in the world. I was too young to remember Murcer's earlier--and more significant--years with the Yanks, but he won my heart that day. In the years since, I'd also forgotten that Bobby and Thurm were good friends, as a couple of posters have mentioned. How perfect that he should come through for his buddy. The more I think about it, the more it's astonishing: a guy at the tail end of his career, offered the chance to sit out because he's in mourning, muscles in 5 runs for his pal whose career was cut short at its apex. Baseball never ceases to amaze. Cheers to a great Yankee.
I'm on board with Sexson. SI's Jon Heyman quotes Girardi saying the team's biggest need is a righty bat. Whether Sexson fits the bill is up for debate, certainly. But judging from his recent line of work--Chacon, Ponson, etc--I'm guessing tall Richie will be a Yank this week. If he wants to be. I've said all along, for $180K, it can't hurt. If it does, you dump him faster than Ponson can get arrested in Aruba.
By the way, don't look now, but the Rays have lost 6 in a row. Could this be the beginning of a collapse, now that we all declared them world conquerors last week? And not that it matters, but the Mutts have suddenly drawn even in the "Mayor's Race." Get ready for some intolerable hollerin' from the Queens Brats faithful.
oops. That was: judgin from Cash's recent line of work.
YEAH CHECK OUT THAT LINE UP NO ONE STEP UP TO THE HOMER DERBY IN THEIR HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M SURE ALOT OF YANKEE FANS ARE DISGUSTED BY THIS I'M ASHAME TO BE A YANKEE FAN !!!!!!!!!!!! THE YANKEE GRATE WOULD HAVE NEVER HAVE ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ASK ANY YANKEE POWER HITTER why? THEY DO'NT CARE CUZ THATS THE SAME ATTITUDE THEY TAKE TO THE FIELD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEIR RECORD REFLECTS THAT!